On February 2nd ROH heads back to Baltimore for our second “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV Tapings of 2013!! Last time out we kicked off the Top Prospect Tournament, the Briscoes defended the World Tag Titles against Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander, and Jay Lethal went face-to-face with both ROH Match Maker Nigel McGuinness and World Champion Kevin Steen!

Well it looks like, per their request and coming off a hard-fought defense in Dearborn against The American Wolves, Jay & Mark Briscoe have told McGuinness they want to defend the belts once again in Baltimore! They aim to be fighting champions and ROH officials are more than happy to oblige whenever possible. In addition to this title defense, a number of other matches have been signed:

-The Briscoes Will Defend the World Tag Titles!

-The Semi-Finals and Finals of The Top Prospect Tournament with QT Marshall, Silas Young, Tadarius Thomas, and Matt Taven

– 6 Man Grudge Match: Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong vs. The American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) & Michael Elgin
The tensions in this one are very evident as Fish & O’Reilly look to even the score with The Wolves after their loss at “Final Battle 2012″ while Roderick wants to continue his winning streak on Michael Elgin. Roddy beat him at “FB ’12” and was responsible for his elimination in the Defy or Deny challenge at “Defy or Deny II”; a third victory in a row would certainly put the former World Champion at a psychological advantage in this fight of former HoT members. Davey is coming off putting down Kyle in a singles bout also at “Defy or Deny II” while Eddie needs a victory after the demoralizing loss in the aformentioned DoD match that has now seen him boxed out of the World Title picture. That all says nothing of the history between Davey, Eddie, and Roddy…the emotions wrapped up in this one run deep and it’s the type of situation that is a veritable powder keg.

– Grudge Match: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Jay Lethal
Jacobs put in the performance of his life in Dearborn last Friday as he challenged World TV Champion Adam Cole in a Proving Ground match and while he failed to earn a future shot at the title, Jacobs showed that he is still just as capable of running solo as he is in a tag team. That same night, in a victory that was as much about revenge as sending a message to Kevin Steen, Lethal defeat Steve Corino in a singles bout. Now, with victories over both Corino and S.C.U.M’s most recent acquisition Rhino in his pocket, Jay’s sights are set on putting down Jimmy Jacobs as he looks to get the World Title.

– Women of Honor: Mia Yim vs. MsChif
Last time in Baltimore MsChif went one-on-one with Athena in battle of the Women of Honor. Now “Your Soul’s Tormentor” returns to action to take on someone we haven’t seen since August, an opponent with whom she faced off back at “Gateway to Honor” in 2011: Mia Yim! Once merely the candy on Prince Nana’s arm, Mia has spent the majority of the last year training & competing in Japan, primarily for the REINA promotion, and honing her both her body and her in-ring skills. She returns to ROH a very different competitor than when we last saw her, and MsChif is certainly in for one of her toughest fights.

– Nigel McGuinness confronts Matt Hardy
Nigel has expressed extreme disgust at the fashion in which Matt Hardy defeated Adam Cole back at “Final Battle 2012″ and is now even more displeased after the brawl that broke out at “Defy or Deny II” between the two men. That dust-up ended with Hardy smashing Cole across the skull with the TV Title belt and now the ROH Match Maker has promised to confront the “Self Proclaimed Icon” in Baltimore.

The road to our “11th Anniversary Event” continues on February 2nd in Baltimore and you can certainly expect more matches to go down at The Du Burns Arena that night! Tickets are on-sale now (http://www.rohwrestling.com/product/baltimore-md-february-2nd) in the ROH Store so make sure you don’t miss out as we head to Baltimore now because we won’t be back until June!

— The National Wrestling Hall of Fame sent out the following today…

WATERLOO, Iowa—The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum has finalized the Class of 2013 for the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. This will be the 15th class inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend will take place July 12-13 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Ric Flair, “Cowboy” Bill Watts, and Chris Taylor (posthumously) were chosen by the selection committee to enter the Hall of Fame. Criteria for induction into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame include substantial impact on professional wrestling, general respect within the profession, and a strong amateur wrestling background. The selection committee includes all living hall of fame members as well as a select group of wrestling historians.

A special committee also selects four award winners to enter the Hall of Fame. This year’s award winners include Edge (Adam Copeland), Jim Brunzell, Matt Hughes, and George Napolitano.

“This is a special class of inductees,” said Gerry Brisco, a member of the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame and a member of the special selection committee. “Each person being inducted has taken the profession to new heights. I look forward to being back in Waterloo, Iowa, for this year’s Hall of Fame weekend.”

Adam Copeland will receive the Lou Thesz Award, which is given to an individual in wrestling who has taken the skills of the profession into the realm of public service. Copeland (known as Edge) held 31 championships in the WWE, including 11 world championships. He is also one of three wrestlers who have held every currently active male championship in the WWE.

Jim Brunzell will receive the Frank Gotch Award for bringing positive recognition to professional wrestling through work outside the ring. The former AWA star was part of the “High Flyers,” a tag team that included Greg Gagne. Brunzell also had a very successful run in the WWE as one half of the Killer Bees tag team with Brian Blair.

Diamond Dallas Page will receive the Frank Gotch Award in 2014.

Matt Hughes will receive the George Tragos Award, given to an exceptionally competitive wrestler who adapted his wrestling skills and competitive nature to excel in Mixed Martial Arts. Hughes is a nine-time World Welterweight Champion of the UFC, with a 45-9 career record. He was also a two-time Division I wrestling All-American for Eastern Illinois in the 158 pound weight class.

The Jim Melby Award recognizes excellence in professional wrestling journalism. George Napolitano, this year’s recipient, specialized in professional wrestling photography. He has authored several pictorial books, including “Hot Shots and High Spots”, “Wrestling Heroes and Villains”, “This is Wrestling!”, and “The Pictorial History of Wrestling: The Good the Bad and the Ugly” (with Bert Randolph Sugar).

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is selling 50 all-access passes to the George Tragos Lou Thesz/Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend in advance of the event for $100 each. The all-access pass includes:

–Front row ticket to the Impact Pro Wrestling Show on Friday night with Colt Cabana and professional wrestling legends.

–Ticket to the talent evaluation seminar led by Hall of Famer Gerry Brisco.